unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD: Thus saith the Lord Go; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! Therefore thus saith the Lord Gon; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD Micah ii, 11. It a man, walking in the spirit and falsehood, do lie, saging, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. PUNISHMENT OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR DUPES. Jer. xiv, 16. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them; them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them Ezek. xii, 15. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries. Ezek. xili, 23. Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD. Micah iii, 5-7. Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, into their mouths, they even prePeace; and he that putteth not bight shall be unto you, that ye pare war against him: Therefore shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye go down over the prophets, and shall not divine; and the sun shall the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded; yea, there is no answer of God. they shall all cover their lips: for Zech. xiii, 4, 5. And it shall Ezek. xiv, 10, 11. And they shall bear the punishment of their come to pass in that day, that the iniquity: the punishment of the prophets shall be ashamed every ishment of him that seeketh prophesied; neither shall they prophet shall be even as the pun- one of his vision, when he hath unto him, That the house of wear a rough garment to deceive: Israel may go no more astray But he shall say, I am no prophet, from me, neither be polluted any I am an husbandman; for man more with all their transgres-taught me to keep cattle from my sions; but that they may be my youth, 675 1st.-THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT IN TEMPORAL THINGS. IN INDIVIDUALS. Gen. xxxi, 29. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. Gen. xlv, 5-8. Now therefore be not grieved with nor angry yourselves that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now, it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh:, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Gen. 1, 19, 20. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 1 Sam. xxv, 29. Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul; but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them❘ shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. Job xxiii, 14. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Prov. xvi, 9. A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Prov. xix, 21. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. Prov. xx, 24, 25. Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? It is a snare to the man who devour rows. Judgment cometh from the LORD. of more value than many sparAn unjust man is an abomination to the just; and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. Eccles. iii, 1-9. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted: A time to kill, and a time to heal: a time to break down, and a time to build up: A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance: A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together: a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing: A time to get, and a time to lose: a time to keep, and a time to cast away: A time to rend, and a time to sew: a time to keep silence, and a time to speak: A time to love, and a time to hate: a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath be that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? Isa. x, 5-7. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypopeople of my wrath will I give critical nation, and against the him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. Jer. x, 23. O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Dan. xii, 1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Matth. x, 29, 30. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the eth that which is holy, and after ground without your Father. But Vows to make enquiry. the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Prov. xxi, 1. The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Prov. xxix, 26, 27. Many seek the ruler's favour: but every man's Luke xii, 6, 7. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? and not one of them is forgotten before God: But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are 676 John vil, 30. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. John vili, 20. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man lad hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. Ps. 1x, 6-8. God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me. Ps. cxxvii, 1, 2. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Prov. xxi, 30. There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, against the LORD. Isa. x, 15. Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Isa, xiv, 26, 27. This is the pur pose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall dis annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? Isa. xxxvii, 26. Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou Shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps. Jer. xxvii, 6, 7. And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come; and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him. Jer. 11, 20-23. Thou art my battle-axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations; and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers., Lam. ii, 17. The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old...... Lam. ill, 38 Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good? Dan. iv, 15, 24, 25. Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven. This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High; which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field.... Dan. xi, 22. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. Joel i, 15. Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Amos iii, 6. Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Hab. i, 12. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. the LORD of hosts that the people Hab. ii, 13. Behold, is it not of shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? Acts v, 38. 39. And now I say and let them alone: for if this unto you, Refrain from these men, counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Deut. il, 30. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. Josh. xi, 19, 20. There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel save the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon; all other they took in battle: For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. Judges ix, 22, 23. When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the Shechem dealt treacherously with men of Shechem; and the men of Abimelech. stirred up an adversary unto So1 Kings xi, 14. And the LORD lomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom. 1 Kings xii, 15. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying. 2 Kings xxiv, 20. For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. hearkened not unto the people: 2 Chron. x, 15. So the king for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of the son of Nebat. Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam 2 Chron. xxv, 16, 20. And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldst thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he sought after the gods of Edom. might deliver them into the hands of their enemies, because they Isa. xix, 14. The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the caused Egypt to err in every work midst thereof: and they have thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. Jer. lii, 3. For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. LESSONS. Gen. xxiv, 49, 50. And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. LORD God of Israel saith, I said 1 Sam. ii, 30. Wherefore the indeed, that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, 1 Kings xii, 23. 24. Speak unto house of Judah and Benjamin, king of Judah, and unto all the and to the remnant of the people, shall not go up, nor fight against saying. Thus saith the LORD, Ye your brethren the children of Is rael: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD. Esth. iv, 12-14. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether then shall their enlargement and holdest thy peace at this time, deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Job xxii, 28. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Ps. Iv, 22, 23. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee. Jer. xviii, 7-10. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build, and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them. Zeph. II, 1, 2. Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the flerce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you. PRESUMPTION. 2 Kings xviii, 25. Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. Isa. xxxvi, 10. Am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? The LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. 2nd-THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT IN SPIRITUAL THINGS. THE DIVINE DECREES AND CHOICE. Exod xxxii, 32, 33. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Exod. xxxiii, 19. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Prov. xvi, 3, 4. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. The LORD hath made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Isa. iv, 3. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusa- Jer. i, 5. Before I formed thee in Matth. xiii, 10, 11. And the disWhy speakest thou unto them in ciples came, and said unto him, parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given, Matth. xx, 16. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Matth. xxiv, 22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened, ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John xvii, 6. 9. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou givest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. I pray for them: I pray not for the hast given me; for they are thine. world, but for them which thou Rom. 1, 6, 7. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ; To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Kom. ix,10-14,16. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac, (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of stand, not of works, but of him God according to election might Matth. xxv, 34. Then shall the The elder shall serve the younger. that calleth,) It was said unto her, King say unto them on his right As it is written, Jacob have I hand, Come, ye blessed of my Fa-loved, but Esau have I hated. ther, inherit the kingdom pre- What shall we say then? Is there pared for you from the foundation unrighteousness with God? God forbid. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of Lim that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. of the world. Mark x, 31. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. Mark xiii, 20. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. Luke vili, 9, 10. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Luke x, 22. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father, and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Luke xviii, 7, 8. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? John vi, 44, 45. No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. John xv, 16. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and 1 Cor. i, 26-29. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his pre sence. 1 Cor. il, 7, 8. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God or dained before the world unto our glory; Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. he hath chosen us in him before Eph. 1, 4-6, 10-12. According as the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adop tion of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in hea ven, and which are on earth, even | in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will; That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Eph. ii, 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph. iii, 10, 11. To the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, ACcording to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Phil. iv, 3. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life. 2 Tim. 1, 9. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world be gan. 2 Tim. il, 10. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Titus i, 1. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. 1 Pet. i 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Rev. xiii, 8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. xx, 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. xxi, 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. THE DIVINE REJECTION. Deut. xxix, 4. Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. against another, the judge shall 2 Sam. xxiv, 1. And again the Job xvii, 4. For thou hast hid and tell this people, Hear ye in- Isa. xxix, 10. For the LORD hath Isa. xliv, 18. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. Jer. vi, 21, 22, 30. Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay the stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them. John vi, 65, 66. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John xvii, 12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 2 Cor. iv, 3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. and Jambres withstood Moses, so 2 Tim. iii, 8, 9. Now as Jannes do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. Ps. lxxxi, 11, 12. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So hearts' lust; and they walked in I gave them up unto their own their own counsels. Prov. v, 22, 23. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. Isa. lxiii, 17. O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy inheritance. servants' sake, the tribes of thine their delusions, and will bring Isa. lxvi, 4, 5. I also will choose their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and choose that in which I delighted not. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. had not executed my judgments, Ezek. xx, 24-26. Because they but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby should not live: And I polluted they them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, to the end that they might know that I might make them desolate, that I am the LORD. 2 Cor. xiii, 5-7. Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; Rom. ix, 22. What if God, will not your own selves, how that prove your own selves: know ye ing to show his wrath, and to Jesus Christ is in you, except ye make his power known, endured be reprobates? But I trust that with much long-suffering the ye shall know that we are not vessels of wrath fitted to destruc-reprobates. Now I pray to God tion. that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. Rom. xi, 7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he 1 Sam. ii, 25. If one man sin seeketh for, but the election hath |